An exploration of movement and memory through the lens of dance, with images that pay tribute to Alvin Ailey’s impact and artistry.
This exhibition celebrates the beauty, emotion and power of dance through high-quality images reproduced from books in the Art, Music and Recreation collection at the San Francisco Main Library. From iconic performances to behind-the-scenes glimpses, these photographs reflect a wide range of dance traditions and performance. The exhibit also highlights the department’s extensive resources on the performing arts—featuring print materials, research collections, musical scores and more.
Alvin Ailey was magic. Born in 1931, he grew up in the violently racist and segregated rural South during the Great Depression. In Texas, he found refuge in church and faith. He later moved west to Los Angeles, then San Francisco, and eventually to the East Coast—gathering dance training along the way while juggling odd jobs and taking classes at schools including San Francisco State and UCLA.
Ailey studied a wide range of dance styles, building a deep knowledge of how movement expresses culture across the globe. His choreography blended European ballet with African dance traditions and was deeply influenced by modern dance pioneers like Martha Graham, Lester Horton, Katherine Dunham and José Limón. He collaborated across disciplines and backgrounds, creating work that transcends the stage and moves the soul.
In 1958, he founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, later followed by the Ailey School. His legacy stretches worldwide—from the U.S. State Department to the Royal Danish Ballet and the Metropolitan Opera. He worked with beauty and purpose to make dance accessible to all. Today, the company he founded remains one of the world’s leading dance institutions—and Ailey’s influence is as present and powerful as ever.
We love Alvin Ailey.
Related Events
San Francisco Dance Film Festival: Ten short films celebrate identity, place and expression through the international language of movement. - Sat., Oct. 4, 2 p.m., Main Library, Koret Auditorium
Opening Reception: TBD
LOCATION:Main Library CLASS:PUBLIC TRANSP:TRANSPARENT END:VEVENT BEGIN:VALARM TRIGGER:-PT1440M ACTION:DISPLAY DESCRIPTION:Event Reminder - EXTENDED: Celebrating Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater END:VALARM END:VCALENDAR